Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) — Alabama’s new immigration law giving police the power to verify the immigration status of people stopped for questioning, was blocked by a U.S. judge three days before it’s scheduled to take effect.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn in Birmingham issued a two-page order today barring enforcement of the law, which includes provisions requiring police to verify the immigration status of anyone they stop whom they suspect may be in the country illegally and criminalizes the knowing rental of housing to unlawful immigrants.

The federal government, the American Civil Liberties Union and Christian clergy, among others, asked Blackburn to temporarily stop enforcement of the law. Birmingham attorney Augusta Dowd argued on behalf of the clergy, which said the law interfered with carrying out their Christian duties, including clothing and feeding the undocumented immigrants.

“In entering this order, the court specifically notes that it is no way addressing the merits of the motions,” Blackburn wrote.